2023-08-15 04:31:12
Researchers from the National University of Córdoba (UNC) and the Conicet are working on the development of regenerative membranes for the treatment of chronic wounds through a method that is simple to apply, non-invasive and more effective than those that currently exist. The dressings are intended for wounds that require prolonged treatment, such as burns and diabetic foot ulcers, and have the ability not only to speed healing, but also to release antibiotics.
“What happens with chronic wounds such as ulcers or burns is that there is no consensus on what is the optimal treatment and those that are available on the market have their disadvantages,” explains Fiamma Barbieri, a Conicet doctoral fellow who works on the project within of the Research and Development Unit in Pharmaceutical Technology (UNC-Conicet).
Among the methods that are usually used for this type of wound are debridement, which consists of removing dead tissue to help healing, and alginate membranes (compound from algae), which promote regeneration but have no pharmacological action. . The use of creams containing silver sulfadiazine is also common and can be found at any pharmacy. “There are studies that show that although this cream is very good at preventing infections, in the same way that it damages the bacterial cell, it also ends up harming the regeneration cells of the wound. Therefore, it delays healing,” says Barbieri, who is part of the Translational Research Group in Pharmaceutical Sciences (GIT-Farma).
like a band-aid
An advantage of the membranes is that it is a non-invasive method and easy to apply. “The patient would cover the wound with the membrane, as if it were a band-aid and it would not generate additional pain. In addition, it can be washed with water and it dissolves, it is not necessary to scrape as it happens with a cream”, indicates Barbieri. Another positive aspect is that it is a transparent dressing that allows you to see the evolution of the wound and detect if there is suppuration or color changes that could indicate an infection.
In addition, the membrane is made with biocompatible components, that is, materials that have a good capacity to adapt to the tissue where they are deposited without generating adverse effects. Among these biomaterials are alginate and hyaluronic acid, a substance that is also produced by the body naturally.
However, the main novelty of the development is that it has an intelligent drug release system, which allows the addition of antibiotics and anesthetics in the same formula. “We are working with materials and drugs that are already approved by regulatory entities. What would be innovative would be the platform and the final pharmaceutical form”, emphasizes Barbieri.
The platform’s versatility also makes it possible to obtain different types of membranes, since some can be manufactured with antibiotics (indicated for infected wounds) and others without the addition of these drugs.
closing wounds
The operation of the dressings is very simple. When the membrane components come into contact with wound fluid, they transform into a hydrogel. This allows to maintain the necessary humidity to avoid the formation of scabs and promote better healing. In addition, antibiotics are directed directly to the target of action and in high concentrations, which reduces the chances of developing bacterial resistance.
So far, the researchers have tested the action of the membranes on burn wounds in rats. “What we saw is that wound healing is significantly more efficient than with frequent use cream as healing is faster and more orderly. Now we are going to do a study in diabetic rats, simulating an ulcer, to see how it works”, says Barbieri. They will also seek to improve the sustained release of the drug and enhance its antimicrobial activity.
A central objective of the team is to work on developments that are feasible to transfer to the industry to reach society. For this reason, to make scaling easier, they think of these membranes as platforms to which different types of drugs could be added.
In any case, Barbieri clarifies that to go to this stage it would be necessary for there to be a company adopting the product. “This would also be important to be able to later test the development in a clinical stage, since it requires another type of financing that allows us to carry out studies with the good laboratory practices requested by the ANMAT. Hopefully we can achieve it ”, he highlights.
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